The European Newcotiana project harnesses tobacco plants for molecular farming, enabling the production of custom molecules that could fast-track COVID-19 vaccines.
Researchers worldwide are racing to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, but scaling production swiftly and at scale poses a major hurdle for the pharmaceutical industry. As highlighted in a Euronews report from May 25, 2020 (video at article's end), advanced techniques are essential to meet this demand.
Leading this effort is Spain's Institute of Molecular and Cellular Plant Biology in Valencia, spearheading the Newcotiana project in collaboration with scientists across Europe and Australia. These experts utilize tobacco plants as "bio-factories" to create tailored molecules through molecular farming, a cutting-edge biotechnology.
The focus is on Nicotiana benthamiana, an Australian native and key model in plant biology, especially for host-pathogen interactions. It's already proven effective in producing vaccines and antibodies, including those for Ebola.
Project leaders modify these plants to synthesize novel substances by inserting specific genetic material into their genome. This genetic code instructs the plant to produce antibodies, vaccines, and more. Using specialized DNA-cutting enzymes akin to CRISPR-Cas9, researchers achieve precise gene editing.
While the future application to COVID-19 vaccines remains to be proven, scientists are optimistic. Watch the Euronews report below for insights into this innovative project.
